RESTORING NIGERIA’S ENERGY SECURITY

For over a decade, Nigeria endured severe losses to its oil reserves due to theft and vandalism. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) documented that between 2009 and 2020, 619.7 million barrels of crude oil, valued at $46.16 billion, were illicitly removed from national custody. The zenith of this crisis occurred in 2016, with 101.6 million barrels lost—equivalent to 278,356 barrels daily—resulting in a revenue shortfall of $4.6 billion at an average price of $46.07 per barrel. Between 2017 and 2021, NEITI recorded 7,143 incidents of pipeline sabotage, leading to the theft of 208.639 million barrels, worth $12.74 billion, while the nation expended N471.493 billion on pipeline restoration. These losses deprived Nigeria of vital resources for public infrastructure.

A significant shift transpired in 2023. NEITI reported a 79% reduction in oil theft, from 36.69 million barrels in 2022 to 7.68 million in 2023, attributing this to enhanced resource governance. By January 2025, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission announced theft had declined to 5,000 barrels daily, elevating crude production to 1.75 million barrels per day—a testament to effective policy.

This progress commenced with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, followed by the appointment of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser on 19 June 2023. Ribadu’s expertise swiftly addressed the underpinnings of oil theft. In March 2024, President Tinubu appointed Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Departing from prior politically motivated selections, Otuaro’s strategic acumen enabled him to serve as a unifying figure for former militants and disenfranchised youths—key constituencies exploited by oil thieves—thereby fostering stability in the Niger Delta.

Collaborating with Ribadu, Otuaro supported the formation of a 20-man Energy Security Working Group, chaired by Ledum Mittee, targeting two million barrels daily. 

Guided by the watchful eyes of the National Security Adviser, bolstered by the efforts of Tantita Security Limited, an indigenous security outfit and augmented by military diligence, these measures have curtailed losses as NEITI has affirmed. 

The success achieved by Tantita Security, has shown without any doubt that deepening community engagement and driving community participation is critical to protecting and managing the nation’s oil and gas assets. 

The administration’s focus on competent leadership offers Nigeria a path to global energy prominence. The Niger Delta Energy Security Forum calls for unwavering commitment to this course, essential for national prosperity.

Kerley Sowunari George,

Convener, Niger Delta Energy Security Forum,

Port Harcourt